Phosphazene based functional fluid compositions

Abstract

A functional fluid composition is provided which comprises a plurality of different phosphazene compounds of the general formula (P=N)n (R)a (R')b (R'')c (R''')d wherein R is at least one alkoxy moiety described by the general formula -OCH2(CF2)yX, with X being hydrogen or fluorine and y being equal to 1 to about 10; R', R'' and R''' are different aryloxy moieties, each of R', R'' and R''' being selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, alkoxy phenoxys, alkyl phenoxys, chlorinated phenoxys, fluorinated phenoxys, aryl phenoxys, phenoxy phenoxys, fluoroalkyl phenoxys, fluoroalkoxy phenoxys, chlorinated phenoxy phenoxys, fluorinated phenoxy phenoxys and mixtures thereof; n is equal to 3 to about 4 for each of said phosphazene compounds, each of a, b, c and d is equal to or greater than zero such that the sum a+b+c+d is equal to 2n; and for the composition as a whole, the average value of each of a, b, c and d is greater than 0.

We claim: 
     
       1. A functional fluid composition comprising a plurality of different cyclic phosphazene compounds of the general formula:   (P=N).sub.n (R).sub.a (R').sub.b (R").sub.c (R"').sub.d     wherein;   R is at least one alkoxy moiety described by the general formula --OCH 2  (CF 2 ) y  X, with X being hydrogen or fluorine and y being equal to 1 to about 10;   R', R" and R"' are different aryloxy moieties, each of R', R" and R"' being selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, alkoxy phenoxys, alkylphenoxys, chlorinated phenoxys, fluorinated phenoxys, arylphenoxys, phenoxy phenoxys, fluoroalkyl phenoxys, fluoroalkoxy phenoxys, chlorinated phenoxy phenoxys, fluorinated phenoxys phenoxys and mixtures thereof;   n is equal to 3 to about 4;   for each of said phosphazene compounds, each of a, b, c, and d is equal to or greater than zero such that the sum a+b+c+d is equal to 2n; and   for the composition as a whole, the average value of each of a, b, c, and d is greater than 0; and    wherein each of said different phosphazene compounds is present in an amount less than 70% by weight of the total phosphazene content of said composition.   
     
     
       2. The functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein the ratio of the average value of a, for the composition as a whole, to the sum of the average values of b, c and d, for the composition as a whole, is about 0.5:1 to about 8:1. 
     
     
       3. The functional fluid composition of claim 2 wherein the ratio is about 0.8:1 to about 5:1. 
     
     
       4. The functional fluid composition of claim 3 wherein the ratio is about 1.3:1 to about 1.9:1. 
     
     
       5. The functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein said composition includes at least three of said different phosphazene compounds, each of said different phosphazene compounds being present in an amount less than 50% by weight of the total phosphazene content of said composition. 
     
     
       6. The functional fluid composition of claim 5 wherein at least two of said different phosphazene compounds are each present in an amount less than 35% by weight of the total phosphazene content of said composition. 
     
     
       7. The functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein at least 90% by weight of the alkoxy moieties present in all of said phosphazene compounds combined are trifluoroethoxy. 
     
     
       8. The functional fluid composition of claim 1 wherein at least 80% by weight of the aryloxy moieties present in all of said phosphazene compounds combined are selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, alkyl phenoxys, and alkoxy phenoxys. 
     
     
       9. The functional fluid composition of claim 8 wherein at least 90% by weight of the aryloxy moieties are selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, methylphenoxys, ethylphenoxys, dimethylphenoxys and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
       10. The functional fluid composition of claim 9 wherein at least 80% by weight of said aryloxy moieties are selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, m-methylphenoxy and p-methylphenoxy. 
     
     
       11. The functional fluid composition of claim 10 wherein at least 90% by weight of said aryloxy moieties are selected from the group consisting of phenoxy, m-methylphenoxy and p-methylphenoxy. 
     
     
       12. The product of the process comprising reacting a cyclic dichlorophosphazene compound, having 3 to about 4 phosphazene units, with (a) at least one alkanol reactant generally described by the formula HOCH 2  (CF 2 ) y  X, with X being hydrogen or fluorine and y being equal to 1 to about 10, and (b) at least three different phenolic reactants selected from the group consisting of phenol, alkoxy phenols, alkyl phenols, chlorinated phenols, fluorinated phenols, aryl phenols, phenoxy phenols, fluoroalkyl phenols, fluoroalkoxy phenols, chlorinated phenoxy phenols, fluorinated phenoxy phenols and mixtures thereof said reaction occurring in a medium comprising a mixture of water, a base, a water-immiscible solvent and a phase-transfer catalyst. 
     
     
       13. The product of claim 12 wherein the phase transfer catalyst is an alkyl, aryl or aralkyl ammonium or phosphonium salt. 
     
     
       14. The product of claim 13 wherein the phase transfer catalyst is one having the structure:   (R.sup.iv).sub.4 AX     wherein the (R iv )'s are the same or different alkyl, aryl or aralkyl group, A is nitrogen or phosphorus, and X is halogen, OH, HSO 4 , NO 3 , BH 4 , IO 4 , ClO 4 , CN, N 3 , OCH 3 , tosylate or benzoate.   
     
     
       15. The product of claim 14 wherein the (R iv )'s are the same or different alkyl group, and X is chlorine or bromine. 
     
     
       16. The product of claim 15 wherein the molar ratio of said alkanol reactant and said phenolic reactants to said dichlorophosphazene units is about 2:1 to about 2.5:1. 
     
     
       17. The product of claim 16 wherein the molar ratio of said alkanol reactant to said phenolic reactants is about 5:1 to about 0.8:1. 
     
     
       18. The product of claim 16 wherein about 40% to about 60% by weight of said phenolic reactants is phenol.